Moreover, sections of my favorite unpaved trail are now dry and firm enough to ride, and it's precisely on such terrain that the Cambium excels, because the rubbery shell helps noticeably in soaking up the bumpies.

In fact, between that rubbery saddle and the touring bike tires, it's almost like I got me a gravel bike. Clearly what Brooks should do is market a gravel-specific version of the Cambium C-17 and call it the Cambium C-17g. The C-17g would be identical to the regular C-17 in every way, except that it would cost 50% more, and I guarantee it would quickly become their biggest seller.

Anyway, what with the quiet bike, the respite from the pavement, and the inevitability of spring, I was feeling pretty good about things, but then I went to download the above photo and randomly came across an image from my last vacation:

Now I'm depressed because it reminded me that, comparatively speaking, where I live totally sucks.

It’s long been known that bike riders are more susceptible to having weaker bones than people who do higher-impact sports like running or basketball. In one study, University of Oklahoma researchers performed bone scans on 32 male road cyclists between the ages of 18 and 45 who trained and raced competitively. They found that almost all the riders had lower bone density compared with a control group; some even had osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and prone to breaking.

Previously, I'd been deluding myself into thinking I was a healthy and fit individual by mere virtue of the fact that I rode a bike. However, as I approached middle age, I began to realize that years of bike racing to the exclusion of pretty much any other form of intense physical activity had basically turned me into a mutant capable of riding a bike for long distances but useless for pretty much everything else, and that being able to ride a hundred miles without breaking a sweat yet unable to run for half a block to catch a bus without developing shin splints or breaking a tibia is far from "being in shape."

Actually, it's perversely satisfying when you think about it, since so much of cycling is built on this whole idea of "suffering" and grizzled Flemish people jackhammering the cobbles and all of that, but in reality it's kind of a "woosie" sport that's less about suffering and more about whining. Consider the imagery of sensual, on-the-bike suffering, cultivated so adeptly by Rapha over the years that it's become a cliché:

Now consider that basically everyone in these grainy black-and-white photos is doing a low-impact sport that will leave them with the bone density of a sparrow by the time they're 50.

Oh, and we take coffee breaks. At cafés. Where we drink cutesy little designer coffee drinks.

Pathetic.

As cyclists, we all think we're doing something special, but the truth is it's just not that hard. I know this because I've been trying to run on occasion, and that is hard. It's pretty humbling when you realize all those doofuses you pass in the park who are running while wearing headphones and belts with tiny water bottles on them are doing something that's harder than the Rapha Gentlemen's Race--and they're doing it in the morning before work. We also love to laugh at triathletes because they can't stay on their bikes, but if you think about it from a Darwinian standpoint they're far better adapted to survival on the planet Earth than actual cyclists. Sure, they do a lot of this, but at least they can run and swim. On the other hand, we can ride for days on end, but we're utterly useless for anything else. So when it comes down to it, which is going to help you more when we're invaded by a foreign power? Triathletes will be running and swimming to safety and launching amphibious assaults, while we're all dicking around trying to figure out which tires to "run," and arguing about whether we should use the fat bike or the gravel bike.

Probably the only demographic as susceptible to gentle breezes and tiny chills than the roadie is the Southern Belle.

I wonder how long it will be until Rapha "drops" a parasol:

(Cutouts for weight savings.)

I mean, come on--we're so frail that we can't even make it into the Home Depot without getting carried away by a zephyr:

bike wipe out rescuer - m4w (willoughby/bedford)fourish in the afternoon - one moment i was all set, about to head into home depot. next minute i was bouncing off the ground and into a parked car. have no idea why - maybe as you said a gust, or maybe something mechanical? who knows, but it must have been interesting to watch! nothing busted, just winded and dazed and thankful for helmet sense. but you were right there in a flash to get me back upright with help & concern. for that, i thank you. for reminding me that humanity tends to be uplifting more often than not, thank you also.

I start today with a heavy heart. A law school classmate, thoroughly experienced cyclist and dear friend was killed during a race in mid-Ohio on Saturday by a 78 year old man driving a minivan on a long flat stretch of road with no obstructions whatsoever.

Didn't need to see the graphic photo in the paper of my cherished friend laying under a white sheet, either.

Even though you never knew Joe, please take a moment to say a prayer for him.

Ride extra cautious today, and when you get back home, hold those you love just a little tighter, because none of us knows whether we have a tomorrow.

Sorry to hear about your friend, wishiwasmerckx. I hope his family and friends keep him alive with great memories. Speaking of safety on the road, my "not so) great state of South Carolina has this bill that was just proposed:TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-1715 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A BICYCLE TO OBTAIN A PERMIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND LIABILITY INSURANCE AS IS REQUIRED OF MOTOR VEHICLES BEFORE OPERATING A BICYCLE ALONG A HIGHWAY WHOSE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT IS AT LEAST THIRTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR; AND BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, FOR THE PURPOSES OF REGISTRATION AND THE REQUIRED LIMITS OF LIABILITY INSURANCE, A MOPED IS A MOTOR VEHICLE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-1715. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, the owner of a bicycle who is at least fifteen years old shall obtain a bicycle permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles upon payment of a fee of five dollars and maintain liability insurance on the bicycle as is required of an owner of a motor vehicle as provided in Chapter 77, Title 38, before operating the bicycle along a highway whose maximum speed limit is at least thirty-five miles an hour.

(B) Before the department issues a bicycle permit, the applicant must pass successfully all parts of a bicycle safety written examination that is developed by the department. The examination shall include a test of the applicant's eyesight, as pertains to the operation of a bicycle, a test of his ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic and his knowledge of the traffic laws of this State. This permit must be in the applicant's immediate possession when the bicycle is operated along a highway whose maximum speed limit is at least thirty-five miles an hour. A person who is less than fifteen years old may not operate a bicycle along a highway whose maximum speed limit is at least thirty-five miles an hour."

SECTION 2. Article 3, Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-3-115. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purposes of registration and the required limits of liability insurance, a moped is a motor vehicle."

I mean seriously now...forced to carry liability insurance? What am I going to be liable for...putting a dent in some d-bags BMW after he hits me??

"As cyclists, we all think we're doing something special, but the truth is it's just not that hard. I know this because I've been trying to run on occasion, and that is hard. It's pretty humbling when you realize all those doofuses you pass in the park who are running while wearing headphones and belts with tiny water bottles on them are doing something that's harder than the Rapha Gentlemen's Race--and they're doing it in the morning before work."

The bicycle was invented to make it possible to go farther and faster with less effort. That is the original purpose of the bicycle. It was not invented for exercise or racing.

About the bike-cycle-cycling: The relevant factor is most likely low testosterone. It actually does affect runners & triathletes too, though not as much because yep, what they do is harder. But long sessions of cardio of any type actually lower testosterone, which in turn lowers both overall muscle mass and bone mass/density, which in turn maybe makes you a better runner/biker but unfortunately tends to lower sex drive (comments here notwithstanding) and all the rest of it. Solution: do sprints, not long-ass rides. And actually lift some weights and shit.

I put a big pile of dirt behind my shed and every third day or so I shovel the whole pile about six feet away. I just keep shoveling it back and forth. Great back exercise. Shit, you can land F-16's on my back, seriously. Good for the arms, too, and is a great (short) conversation starter!

WIWM, sorry to hear about your friend. Sorry to hear about anyone that gets killed unnecessarily.

Mostly correct, Roille, but impact is an important factor, too. I was amazed to learn that bones are constantly rebuilding themselves to respond to the treatment they get, i.e., they add material (or remove it, which is the problem) to respond to stress (or the lack thereof).

Basic stuff to anybody that knows anything about physiology, which doesn't include me.

WIWM - It's so true. Every day above ground is a good day, and we are more vulnerable than most to the inattention of drivers. Deepest condolences, dear friend. xo xo

Snobbers, are you calling me a whelp? Seriously? I've been called all sorts of interesting things over the years, but that's a new one. The KISS list addresses that whole bone density thing, in point number two. Coming soon.

Bones do indeed require shock loadings to retain mass. If you are shock loading your legs on a bike, you are beyond suck. Relying excessively on cycling for fitness also weakens the glutes, and other muscle groups you need for standing up straight, etc., so go for a walk to the gym for crissake.

If you're a cyclist, I recommend weight training. Exercises like squats, dead lifts, pushups, etc. will certainly help with that pesky bone density thing and you will be a stronger, more fatigue resistant rider. Squats and deads will also make your glutes go "boom," and who doesn't love a hot ass.

I saw Grant Peterson's book on Amazon,'looked inside' and read the bone density thing. Then I came across BSNYC and re-read it. Is there nothing sacred to you people? We all know if you try hard and do your best you'll eventually get a personal pizza.

I saw Grant Peterson's book on Amazon,'looked inside' and read the bone density thing. Then I came across BSNYC and re-read it. Is there nothing sacred to you people? We all know if you try hard and do your best you'll eventually get a personal pizza.

Squats and deadlift's will help with bone density? I've heard one legged squats are the best. So based on this "bone density theory", what's the physiological difference between doing one legged squats, versus standing on a really steep mountain climb?I would guess not much. Maybe these researchers are talking about the retiree riding his beachcruiser around the gated community grounds.

Anonymous @2:45 - I am pretty certain that it is well documented that load bearing exercise tends to help prevent loss of bone density. As between squats and riding your bike, I believe the difference is in weight. When I lift, I typically do 80 reps at 150-200 lbs. I don't think I press that kind of weight when pedaling no matter how steep the hill. There is also a difference in the numbers of muscles and bones that are engaged. Squats and deads stress almost every bone in your body; pedaling is largely isolated to your legs.

I gave up bike racing after my third race, a crit, because I really blew at riding in a pack. (also I was slow). Triathlons are great because my bike-handling skills are much better than the converted runners I compete against. (but running sucks)

JLRB for comment of the day.wiwm - taking my cap off to salute your friend.Ah, the seven sisters! Can never remember to count them when I am going up or down, but, yes it make this a beautiful place to live. Lots of suffering going up, woohoo speed going down, no gain in bone density.

I'm more of a runner, but now a cycling convert. First, the sweat factor of running. You don't have a lot of air flow. Next, the pounding. Runners always have some sort of pain, sprain, whatnot. Thirdly, you never really feel like you're getting anywhere while running; there's a lot more scenery to take in while cycling.

It was only recently I learned of all the differences between high-weight/low-reps vs. low-weight/high-reps (cycling) and all of a sudden I can't just justify a lengthy bike commute as "exercise I would have to do anyway." I now have to consider the insidious possibility that leasing a Hyundai and driving it to the gym, like all those dufuses I make fun of, might actually be more efficient after all.

Plus fitting in a few minutes of squats a few times a day. And in the winters (this one particularly long and not much outside riding)...drop to the floor and 10 pushups every few hours. As a break from winter desk work...jumping rope; the rope hangs on the back of my chair. Pull ups on the door frame.

When in the city...always taking the stairs! Ask the guard at the lobby if they open when you get to your floor (I quickly found that getting up to the 14th floor and not being able to open the door was a real downer). Run up those stairs, or 2 at time, or 1 flight running, 1 flight walking.

I turned 50 a few years ago; got a speed bag and a heavy bag; started alternating days ...5 minutes on 1 or the other (worked up to 10 min..it's a lot of pounding). Speed bag + jump rope + daily work or daily tai chi in the off season....not a lot of time = fairly decent all around strength...much moreso than when I was younger, and much moreso than many youngsters I interact with every day.

My own peculiar mix: ride bike down to the cliffs along the Potomac, climb as long as feasible, ride home. Occasionally work on the heavy bag, both kicks and punches. A powerful, properly executed elbow strike shocks the whole body. Also, hang a canvas sack loosely filled with pea gravel and hit that, projecting any hatred you may be harboring into it. And develop some retro, prehistoric quirks - like when your car tires need air, pump them up manually.

The key phrase in your post was something along the line of...'by the age of 50'...this was a post about middle age...you can keep the trappings of youth, even after having children, but after a while, they stop fitting in the big dummy, and they take up more of your time than you imagined. I can see it, I can feel the despair. But I've been middle-aged since you were in college, so I think I have this down. My solution was simple...I'd indulge myself with a pointless purchase, generally a bicycle (I guess this isn't going be as helpful as I hoped) Anyway, I've got 6 bicycles, and only 2 marriages, so it must be working. Your results may vary. (bicycles are cheaper than lawyers & therapists)

I must give you credit: worrying about male osteoporosis is much more creative than earlier generations obcessing about fiber and cholesterol

I don’t very often ride with people that don’t race bikes. It’s not that I’m an elitist or anything. It’s just not a normal thing that I run into people that are fit enough to ride a hard ride, with lots of climbing and not race. But out here in Southern California, there are a bunch of people that train like they are training for racing, but just don’t race. Some of the guys raced previously, some never, but all were completely into the sport and rode like bike racers.

Have you heard of the Tour de Disaster? How cyclists are best placed to step up when the big one hits...

Speaking of disaster, there's a trucker's strike at the ports here which is heating up racial tensions of all things. I hope it doesn't boil over, but it sure looks set to. Lots of guys are seriously angry, and govt and big business are trying to bully their best interests through again, too. Scary boo.

Not that this has anything to do with gross saddles or disintegrating skeletons, but I have found an actual helment!http://www.bikeinn.com/bike/vaude-helment-raincover-black/120878/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=485688&country=us&gclid=CIqy5oqtsb0CFfNxOgod3DAAFA

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About Me

While I love cycling and embrace it in all its forms, I'm also extremely critical. So I present to you my venting for your amusement and betterment. No offense meant to the critiqued. Always keep riding!